Mezmerize

'Mesmerize' and 'Hypnotize' (released in November 2005) were recorded at producer Rick Rubin's Laurel Canyon studio between June and November of 2004. They were produced by Rubin and Daron Malakian and mixed by Andy Wallace, who also mixed the group's 'Toxicity' and 'Steal This Album!' CDs.

The new songs are more complex, more progressive, more unorthodox, and more experimental than ever, while retaining the idiosyncratic, ironic and schizophrenic qualities that make System of a Down so distinctive.

It would appear that the decision to release the two albums six months apart, was made simply to give fans time to get into, and really live with, the music from Disc One before plunging into Disc Two.